The Return of the Titans (31 page)

“Merman? I don't remember
reading about those.”

“I do. They were the
children of the sea god, or something.” Aaron waved the paper. “And
there are a half dozen other stories. All of them are incredible
and the reporters are treating them like the people involved are
lunatics. But I don't think so.”

“I don't understand why
they would even be attacking, Aaron. I mean, what's the point in
random attacks anyway?”

Aaron shrugged. “Fear? Create confusion,
maybe? I dunno. Remember they told us that Hyperion hated humans.
Maybe that's reason enough for his descendants to attack.”

“Maybe. That seemed to be
what happened in these scrolls too. Random acts of violence broke
out, more happened over time and then...civil war.” Justin looked
at Aaron intently. “Seems to be the way they operate, doesn't
it?”

“Yeah, maybe.” Aaron went
back to scanning the paper and Justin opened the last
scroll.

It was grim reading. Justin didn't say
anything as he read but apparently his face betrayed his feelings
because Aaron eventually spoke up.

“Justin, are you okay?
You've gone totally white. Maybe you should lie down or
something?”

“No, Aaron. I'm all
right.” He looked at his friend. “But I didn't realize how bad it
got in Atlantis at the end.” Justin held up the scroll. “According
to this, Hyperion and Cronus met one last time, just before the
end. Hyperion arranged the meeting, saying he wanted to end the
conflict, bring peace to Atlantis. And Cronus agreed to the
meeting.” He shook his head in disbelief. “They murdered him,
Aaron.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Hyperion couldn't
take on his brother alone. It took dozens of Titans to kill Cronus
and it says that he took out at least ten of them before he
fell.”

Aaron was watching Justin with his mouth
wide open. “But, why would Cronus trust him in the first place?
Didn't he know that his brother was working against him?”

“I think...I think that he
was too pure, Aaron.”

“Pure? I don't
understand.”

Justin tried to grope his way to an
explanation. “From what I've read, if Cronus had any fault or
weakness, it was that he was too trusting. Too ready to believe the
best in people. I think he honestly never considered the
possibility that his brother would betray him.”

Aaron just shook his head in disbelief.
“Justin, that's nuts. What kind of ruler is that trusting?”

Justin smiled sadly. “A good one. Too bad
the world doesn't seem to understand that.” He sighed and sat back.
He was very tired now and he had a lot to think about. Aaron seemed
to sense this and quietly went back to reading his paper.

Suddenly, Justin sat up and looked at the
clock. He still had an hour before dinner. He stood up carefully
and waited until he felt steady on his feet before turning toward
the door.

“Where are you going?”
Aaron asked. “You don't look strong enough to go for a
stroll.”

“I'm not going for a
walk,” Justin answered with a smile. “I want to talk to Mr.
Fitzgerald.” He walked to the door and waited until it
opened.

“You want to talk to him
now?” Aaron got up and followed him. “What's the rush? Is it about
the scrolls?”

Justin began to walk up the corridor and
Aaron joined him. “No, not about the scrolls. I've decided to ask
him about Wilson.”

Aaron looked confused. “But I thought you
didn't think he'd tell you.”

They turned at the four-way junction and
headed toward the Court. “Maybe he won't,” Justin shrugged. “But I
have to ask. Wilson was a good friend. I know that if something had
happened to me, he would want to help.” He glanced at Aaron. “You
don't have to come along.”

“I'm just coming to make
sure you don't faint or something. I'll wait outside his office
while you talk.”

“Thanks, Aaron.” Justin
was grateful for his friend's concern. “My knees are so shaky, I
might need a hand getting back.”

Aaron grinned and they walked on in
silence.

The Court was empty and the two friends
walked through to the hallway leading to Mr. Fitzgerald's office.
Once there, Aaron leaned back against the wall and watched as
Justin pushed the button beside the door. They heard the chime go
off inside the room.

There was a moment of silence and then they
heard Mr. Fitzgerald's voice telling them to come in. Justin
glanced at Aaron who nodded and winked. Then the door opened and
Justin walked slowly inside.

Mr. Fitzgerald was sitting behind his desk.
His usual pile of papers was in front of him and, for the first
time, Justin thought that the man looked very tired. However, Mr.
Fitzgerald smiled as Justin approached his desk and waved toward a
chair.

“Justin. Good to see you,”
he said as Justin sat down carefully. “Is there something wrong?
You look a bit too frail to be walking any distance.”

Justin felt a twinge of annoyance. Why did
everyone think he was an invalid? But he kept his irritation out of
his voice.

“Well sir, I don't want to
be a bother.”

The man shook his head with a smile. “You
are far from a bother, Justin.”

“Thank you, sir. But,
well...” Justin hesitated then hurried on before he could change
his mind. “I wanted to know what you were doing about getting
Wilson back. Not the details or anything but just, you know, when
you might be going after him. I'm really worried about
him.”

Mr. Fitzgerald looked grave. He sat back,
folded his arms and looked across the room for a long moment.

“Wilson. Yes. I can
understand why you'd be worried, after what we saw earlier.” Then
he sighed and looked at Justin again. “Justin. I won't lie to you.
After what you've done for us here, you deserve the truth.” He
leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “We won't be
going after Wilson.”

Justin stared at the man in shock. He didn't
know what to say. It took him a minute to speak up.

“You won't be going after
him?” he asked faintly.

“No, I'm afraid
not.”

“But why? He's one of you,
isn't he? A Guardian. You can't just leave him with those people.
Who knows what they will do to him. What they've already done to
him!” Justin's voice was getting louder but he couldn't seem to
control it. “They could be torturing him or worse!”

“Justin, I know. I do. But
the odds of him being alive after all this time are slim at best.
We don't even know where he is or where to start looking for him.”
He looked at Justin intently. “It is possible that the ones who
invaded got their information on our location from Wilson. If that
is true, his use to them would be at an end.

“No way! There's no way
that Wilson would tell them anything,” Justin said. “I know him,
Mr. Fitzgerald. He would never betray us.”

The man nodded slightly. “I agree, Justin.
Some others do not though, and mine is not the only vote that
counts,

Justin was caught off-guard. “What?” he
asked. “But I thought you were the leader of the Guardians.”

Mr. Fitzgerald sat back. He looked away from
Justin for a moment and then looked back. “I am their leader, yes.
But the fate of the Titans, the final decisions are not made by me.
They are made by...others.”

“Others?” Justin was
stunned. He had thought that Mr. Fitzgerald was the supreme leader
of Sanctuary. If he wasn't, then who was?

“Justin, Sanctuary is made
up of a hierarchy. I am the leader of the Guardians. But the
overall control of this refuge is in the hands of a Council. And it
is they who have decided, against my urging, not to attempt a
rescue.”

“But who are
they?”

“I'm not at liberty to say
at the moment.” Mr. Fitzgerald sighed heavily. “You will learn in
time, I'm sure. But for now, all I can say is that the Council are
just and wise. And if they believe that going after your friend is
a bad idea, then I have to believe them. And so should
you.”

Justin felt the anger welling up again
inside him but the look of finality on Mr. Fitzgerald's face kept
him from saying anything.

“I know that this isn't
what you wanted to hear, Justin. But I thought you deserved the
truth.”

Justin stood up. “Yes sir,” he said and
walked to the door. As he opened it, he turned back. “Thank you,
sir. For your honesty.”

Mr. Fitzgerald nodded. “You're welcome. Good
night.”

“Night,” Justin said and
walked out, closing the door behind him.

When Justin stomped into their room, Aaron
stared at him with wide eyes. “What's up, Just?” he asked.

Justin paused for a minute, looked at Aaron
and just shook his head. “Tell you in the morning, bud. I need to
sleep. I have a lot to digest but I'm too tired to think at the
moment.” He gave a brief wave to Aaron and headed into the
bedroom.

“Okay, Just. Sleep well,”
Aaron called back. He stared after his friend for a moment, then
shrugged at went back to playing Arena.

The next morning, after a quiet breakfast,
Justin left for the baths. When he returned. Aaron was quietly
reading one of the newer newspapers. He looked up as Justin walked
in and waited for him to speak.

Justin headed back to the bedroom first and
emerged dressed a few minutes later. Then he sat down heavily on
the couch across from Aaron and glared at him. “They're not going
to do anything. They're not even going to try to save him.” He
slammed his fist into the cushion beside him. “All because of some
mysterious Council that calls the shots around here.” He sat there
and seethed.

Aaron looked confused. “Council?” he asked.
“What Council?”

“That's just it, Aaron; I
don't know! All Mr. Fitzgerald would say is that 'the Council'
wouldn't approve of him trying to rescue Wilson. Apparently they
make all the final decisions, not him. So they're just going to
leave Wilson to rot.”

Hesitantly, Aaron spoke up. “Just, I hate to
even say this but, well, it's possible your friend is, um...”

“Dead? Yeah Aaron, I
know.” Justin sat back, sighed and rubbed his hands over his face.
“But I have to know, don't I? He's only in their hands because of
me. How could I live with myself if I didn't at least try to find
out?”

Aaron nodded reluctantly. “I guess you
really can't,” he said quietly.

They both sat quietly for a while, lost in
thought. Aaron glanced at Justin several times but his friend's
face was devoid of expression. Finally though, Aaron saw a look of
determination come over Justin.

“I have to go,” Justin
said. He stood up and turned toward the door.

“What?” Aaron stared at
him for a moment. Then he stood up and followed Justin to the door.
“Go? You can't just go!”

“I have to, Aaron. If
Wilson is alive, I have to try to save him.”

Aaron grabbed him by the arm as the door
slid open. “Justin, wait a minute! Think about this, man!
Seriously. Don't you realize that going out into the world is just
what they want us to do? Both sides, the government and the rebels
want to get a hold of us. And you're just going to leave and give
them the chance to do it?” Aaron shook his head. “Even if Wilson is
alive, which is a long shot, you have no idea where he is! How are
you going to find him?”

Justin didn't try to shake off Aaron's arm.
He just looked at his friend intently.

“Simple, Aaron. I'm going
to let them catch me.”

There was a long moment of silence. Then
Aaron exploded. “Are you out of your mind?” he yelled. “Justin,
they will kill you! They want us all dead! What makes you think for
a second that they won't just destroy you on the spot?”

Justin smiled gently at Aaron and held up
his hand. “This,” he said as he opened his hand and held up his
palm. The rune glowed silver.

“You actually think that
mark will keep you alive?” Aaron stared at him
incredulously.

“Yes, I do. At least for a
while. Think about it. If I'm supposed to be the descendant of
Cronus, then the rebels will definitely want me alive, if only to
try to discover the location of Sanctuary. As for the government
guys, we already know they want us alive, for experiments. So
either way, I should be safe enough.”

Justin walked into the hallway and started
towards the courtyard. Aaron followed, speaking rapidly.

“But they don't know you,
Justin! They're just as likely to attack first and ask questions
after!”

“They do know me, Aaron.
The rebel that got away saw me and the mark. And she would have
told them all about me, including my description.” He kept talking
as he walked and they soon entered the courtyard. It was empty
except for the patrolling Sentinels.

“But you don't even know
if the Ocular pool is an exit. And if it is, how do you know where
it's going to send you?” Aaron was sounding desperate now. “You
could end up in mid-air, or at the bottom of the ocean!”

Justin shook his head. “No, I don't think
so, Aaron. I think it works just like it did when we contacted our
families. We think of where we need to go and we go. I really
believe that it's that simple.” Then he smiled at Aaron. “And if
I'm wrong, I won't get very far.”

At the top of the staircase leading down to
the Ocular room, the Sentinel watched them approach. As Justin got
closer, it silently took a step to the side and became immobile
again.